Morris tribune., 1887-10-05

There are just two things that the
farmers of this country will do. They
will either combine for self protection
or be trodden into the dust. 1t
wasld.sesm as if .thisSssot ~shoujd be
plain to every thinking farmer. The
agricultural community has been
under the tyranny of combination in
other lines of business for years, and
it has pinched severely. But combi-
nation hitherto has been absolutely
nothing as compared to the present
condition of things. Every line OF
business of any Importance Is being
put into iron-clad combination for tho
express purpose OF robbing the public
of which the farmers are the greater
part. Coal, provisions, cattle, rubber,
gas, strawboard and even rum are
either under "trust" management or
will be; and an addition TO the price
Of any OF these articles increases the
cost OF doing business and is an as
sessment upon every consumer. The
farmer is Interested In reasonable
prices for everything, whether he.
happens to use everything or not.
Matters are being more firmly fixed
than ever 10 compel producers, along
with other consumers, to pay eXtor-
tionate prices for what they must buy.
And what of their own products?
The very same combinations that
hold up the prices of all that the
farmer buys keep down the prices of
what he has to sell. He is at the
mercy of all other classes, and the
situation is really becoming desper-
ate. And yet the remedy is easily in
the hands of the producers. They
can combine if they will. They COM
prise the largest class, and for them
to lie down and let everybody else
walk over them and stamp the life
out of them, would be like big,
burly man permitting child to kick
him to death. Within six months
time the farmers of the United States
could be in position to dictate terms
to the political parties, TO boards Of
trade, monopoiies, and every other
source of oppression that exists, il
they would only do it; and it is just
as easy to do it as to turn over your
hand, 1t requires no canvassing, no
preaching, no anything but tor every
man to do his duty. If every farmer
in the country would do his plain
duty, and liquidate the debt he owes
to himself and his children, he would
at once decide to enroll his name in
some organization, and with that de-
termination upon the part of every
one, all would be ready for organiZa-
ton, and, of course, the only thing
needed would be to publish notice
of place of meeting. In two years
time the farmer will find other classes
so4faly cohib1hed against him. If he
thinks he has hard row to hoe now
he will find that the future will bring
him to a harder one, unless he assert:
his natural right of self-protection
Some of the combinations that have
been formed and some that are abou
) to be formed, are either illegal Of
may be pronounced so by legislation
But to secure either of these results
we must get into a position to MAXI
t our power felt. At present we Art
being devoured without making re
monstrance. At least those who ar
not in organization are making no re
p me7-rance. # the community j
: which a man lived was steadily or
ganizing to do him and his business
an injury he would quickly move 70
self-protection. 1t would be idioc.
d not to do go. But if a man shoul
conceive that he was called upon
protect himself from an antagonist
Il movement among his neighbors. no,
much more cause has he to provld
A., protection against the scheming {
millions of people scattered all owe
= the country, against his rights an
interests? 1t is perfectly unaccount
y able that any farmer in this Who'll
land Should be blind to the necess
ties of the NORTHWESTERN Rural.